Emmary Sharer: Ready for business world
Emmary Sharer will be the student speaker at the Spring Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 13, at 7 p.m. She is a Williams Honors Scholar graduating with a dual major in marketing management and sales management, summa cum laude.
Hometown: Avon, Ohio
Graduate: Avon High School
What’s next?
I'm joining The J.M. Smucker Company as a marketing analyst.
Q: Campus Involvement?
A: Campus involvement has played a big part in my Akron Experience, and most of my involvement has taken place within the residence hall system because I love the community that it creates. I’ve been involved with a lot of programming for various events on campus, like Welcome Weekend, Sibs Saturday and programs within the halls.
The organizations that really helped me to become a part of campus were Emerging Leaders, Hall Government and Residence Hall Program Board. My involvement is what made me feel so at home on campus and is what ultimately led me to become a resident assistant in the Honors Complex and Orr Residence Hall for my junior and senior years. Being involved has meant a lot to me and is the reason why I have so many great memories from UA!
Q: Did you do an internship or co-op? How did that help you prepare for a career?
A: I’ve completed two internships with The J.M. Smucker Company, which is where I’ll be starting fulltime after graduation. They have definitely helped me prepare for a career because I was able to learn a lot about the company, the culture and the work ethic needed to do well in a professional setting. Before my internship, I understood what it took to do well in school, but now I have an understanding of how my work will be evaluated in the real world. My internships also taught me that finding a mentor is priceless and that it’s important to always ask questions and to keep learning.
Q: What's your advice to incoming freshmen?
A: Don’t wait until your junior or senior year to get involved. It may seem like you have an endless amount of time for your goals and opportunities later on, but the truth is that it goes by incredibly quickly. Forget the mentality of, “But, I’m only a freshman,” and put yourself out there and chase opportunities. You’ll be glad that you didn’t waste any time because before you know it, there won’t be any time left to waste.
